UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry has been ranked No. 8 among U.S. dental schools in research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) for fiscal year 2024, according to the agency’s annual rankings released in July.
This is the second consecutive year that the School of Dentistry has placed in the top 10 for NIDCR funding, improving from its No. 10 ranking in fiscal year 2023. The school also retained its position as the highest-ranked dental school in Texas.
The NIDCR reported that UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry received more than $7.4 million in research funding during fiscal year 2024, an increase from $5.7 million in 2023 and $4.4 million in 2022, when it was ranked No. 13.
“Our top 10 national ranking speaks to the growing research culture at the School of Dentistry and to the excellence of ongoing work in our research centers that focus on dental, oral, and craniofacial research,” said Mary “Cindy” Farach-Carson, PhD, associate dean for research and director of clinical and translational research at the dental school. “The investment in our infrastructure and the energy our dedicated researchers bring to their cutting-edge work have elevated us from tenth to eighth nationally.
“Our culture prioritizes well-equipped, managed core facilities and grant support services that foster interdisciplinary work that spans clinical, basic, and translational research.”
Farach-Carson also noted that collaboration and support are leading to results beyond just improved rankings.
“That approach is paying off, not just in funding, but in meaningful scientific contributions towards improving dental, oral, and craniofacial health.”
Each year, NIDCR evaluates institutions based on how much funding they receive during the federal fiscal year. In addition to its NIDCR ranking, UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry was ranked No. 10 nationally among dental schools for total research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for fiscal year 2024.
NIDCR is a division of NIH and serves as the federal government’s main agency for scientific research on dental, oral, and craniofacial health issues.
